Volunteer

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.’” (Luke 15:32).

Prodigal Son (Calvin)

I have been reflecting on a story of great charity.  There was a young boy who was a volunteer.  He was assigned to a client who was an old woman who was bedridden, and he would visit this old woman every few days.  He would talk with her and sit with her and eat a meal with her (when she could).  And he continued in this capacity for some weeks.  As the young boy came to know the old woman more and more, she became more relaxed around him and often spoke her mind.  Eventually, she asked the young boy what he was doing, visiting her so often.  The boy responded that he volunteered for the role, and was happy to visit her and spend time with the old woman.

And the woman was shocked…  She could not seem to fathom why this young boy would give something so great and then he explained to her – he would give anything for love.

And I have been thinking of that today.  I guess that is one of the reasons why abortion is such a terrible sin.  When a mother commits abortion against her own child, what she is doing is killing love.  And while I do not judge those mothers who make this terrible choice, I do pray for them…  For love is the most important thing and when a mother loves – in the way that God has asked her to love- as He loves…

And we know how God loves, because we are told about it in the parables…

“His elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing....But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.’” (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32).

Christ gave everything to pay for my sins and He gave everything for love of me.  And when I think about that and compare it to the failings of my own love, I m overcome.  For though I have never been a mother who had an abortion, I abort love in my heart every single day.  I turn off my love and my kindness every day of my life, because I put myself first instead of putting others first.

And when I think about that today, I am completely overcome.  For it seems that I am not a volunteer within my own life – and as the daughter of a God who volunteered even the last drop of His own Blood – I am simply overcome…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.